Luca and Valentina's uncle Alistair is a paranormal investigator. When he realizes that the children can see the supernatural creatures that share our world, he invites them to join his team. With the help of Camilla, a friendly ghost, the Really Weird Removals team save a real-life stranded Nessie, help a selkie come ashore, and befriend werewolves. But this exciting new world is also packed with danger. When confronted by malicious kelpies and hungry vampires, can their wayward uncle keep the children safe?

Mrs. Hog had already noticed that the fourth baby was the last to do everything. He seemed to be smaller than the rest, but what worried her more than anything was that he had no spines.

Hoglet is a problem hedgehog! With no prickles to defend himself, he needs to overcome his lack of spines and find somewhere safe and warm to hibernate for the winter. Hoglet is a small hedgehog with a big attitude, but will he survive the worsening weather and other wild creatures of the woods?

A heartwarming tale, set in the Scottish countryside, of one little hedgehog’s attempts to conquer adversity with politeness—and a certain amount of luck! This delightful and charmingly illustrated book will appeal to young and old alike.

This is a warm and wonderful true-life dog story, sure to make children and adults smile and set off to find a dog to hug.

Catie Copley has a very special job - she is canine ambassador at a big, beautiful hotel in Boston. She lives with Jim, who also works at the hotel, and spends her days in the lobby, sleeping, greeting people, chasing balls, and sleeping some more.

People are always coming and going, and sometimes they require her special skills - such as a really great sense of smell and a dog's-eye view of the hotel - to help them out. When a guest at the hotel loses her favorite bear, Catie knows that her moment of canine glory has come. Not only must she cheer up Tess, but she also has to sneak away to find the bear somewhere in the maze of back rooms before Tess has to go home.

The adventures of Catie Copley are based on the real-life experiences of a small black labrador, originally trained as a guide dog. She had a career change and is now a member of the guest services team at the storied Fairmont Copley Plaza, where she shares her unique breed of hospitality daily.

A portion of the proceeds from this book benefit the Association for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Catie Copley is a black Labrador retriever who lives an unusual life as Canine Ambassador at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston. Her job includes welcoming guests, taking them for walks, and helping Jim at his job as the hotel's Chief Concierge. Santol, who trained as a guide dog, just like Catie, is her canine counterpart at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Quebec City, Canada.

Catie, a very lady-like dog, is surprised when, one day, a large, furry, black-and-white intruder snatches her toy lobster and runs away with it. She is taken aback, but once she gets to know the rambunctious Santol they become firm friends. When Jim drives Santol back to Canada, Catie is very excited to go too.

This is Catie's first vacation and her first time in a strange city where they speak a different language. Santol introduces her to a famous goat, a friendly horse, a clumsy juggler, and intriguing new foods and smells. Catie finds that there is a lot of opportunity for adventure... maybe a little too much adventure.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book in America will be donated to NEADS / Dogs for Deaf and Disabled Americans, based in Princeton, Massachusetts. Since 1976, NEADS has trained more than 1,000 service dogs to assist deaf or physically disabled individuals.

This is one of the most delightful children's books I've come upon in a while. Richard Adams (better known as the author of Watership Down), has created a fantasy that will have everyone in the family smiling and chuckling from beginning to end. To add to the fun, the entire story is told in humorous rhyming quatrains, matched perfectly by Nicola Bayley's superb paintings.

A gentleman tyger and his son set sail in a rather dubious boat into the timeless unknown. Together they roam across the seas, through jungles, past ice-covered mountains and erupting volcanoes to be rescued at last by a troupe of gypsies. Eventually they return in triumph to Victorian England with many an extraordinary tale to tell.

I found this book at our veterinary's office while I was waiting with our bird, Chipper, for an appointment. Fortunately for me, the doctor was running a bit late, so I was able to read the whole book. After drying my eyes, a smile lingered, and I knew we had to offer this gem to others. It is just that good, and it is a beautiful book to share with any child who has lost an animal friend.

Barney the Cat dies on a Friday, leaving the small boy who is his friend very sad. The boy's mother and father create a special funeral for the cat and ask the boy to think of ten good things about Barney so that he can tell them at their backyard ceremony. But the boy can think of only nine . . . until he discovers the tenth while talking to his father, and begins to understand.

I never expected to like, let alone be charmed and delighted by, a book for children about death. But, All the Dear Little Animals has won my heart! This story is so lightly, sweetly, humorously told; and so true and calming and hopeful. It is, really, everything that any of us would want in a children's story. It just happens to be about death.

On a rather boring summer's day, so the book goes, three children decide they'll start a business called Funerals Ltd., to help bury the poor dead animals of the world. Esther did the digging, the author wrote the poems for the graveside services, and Esther's little brother, Puttie, cried. In an off-beat, playful way, these children explore the fact of death in the world and address its reality with an earnestness that at the same time is in no way morose or intellectualized. This is really just a perfect book for children about a subject we adults often find difficult to discuss.

Recommended for children ages 5 and up.

This captivating book takes us on a safe, funny and deeply meaningful adventure.- Julie Stokes OBE, Founder and Clinical Director of Winston's Wish

The best book I have seen perhaps in years. I just love it. Kate de Goldi, NZ National Radio

In answer to the question, What is a cat?, Tony Johnston and Wendell Minor have created a a loving and lovely tribute to our feline friends in clever, teasing verse and minutely observed paintings. These playful meditations invite us to explore the many moods and passions of tabbies and calicos, animals whose familiarity belies their everlasting mystery. From a tiny gray kitten eyeing a goldfish to a fat marmalade lolling on the sofa, here is a panorama of pleasures for any cat lover.

For cat lovers of any age - a sweet, warm book to share with young and old.

A long, long, long, very long time ago lived Tiny One, a little boy whose father had a great deal of trouble being happy. As a result, whenever other dads played with their children, or said, "Wowee!" when their kids chopped wood, Tiny One's dad just sat in his cave blowing smoke rings. When Tiny One showed his dad owls, foxes, even field mice taking loving care of their children, his dad just mumbled, "Ho-hum."

But the one day Tiny One wandered into the Land of Warminess, a place where the Woollymoms lived. When they found Tiny One and heard about his sad father and how sad Tiny One's life was, they gathered round, creating warminess everywhere and setting things right.

This is a beautiful story about the nature of love, about happiness and about how to find it and make it your own. I can hardly wait to share it with my grandchildren!*

*When I do share it with them (they are not quite old enough yet), I will be doing a wee bit of bawdlerizing. I plan to call the Woollymoms "Woollywarms." I don't think it is only dads who get too sad to be happy and enthusiastic with their children, and it is certainly not only moms who create warmth in a family. But I do think this is a beautiful story, filled with love and power. And I hope that many, many children get to hear it and love it as I do.

When a family builds a new home at the edge of a pine forest, the children go to sleep in their new bedroom for the first time. As the full moon shines on the beautiful new pinewood floors, walls, and ceiling, they have the most surprising dream...out of a large pinewood knot climb seven little Knottles, who are the guardians of the pine trees. The Knottles sing and dance with the children...

Remember the pine trees, how they grow, In the summer, in the snow, Remember the pine trees, root in stone, Twig and limb, seed and cone, And a golden heart in every tree, Giving people wood for free.

When the children wake up in the morning, they are inspired to plant pine tree seedlings with their parents, and they promise to take good care of all their trees for evermore.

A portion of the proceeds from this book supports the international charity www.A Million Trees.

Here is the story of two children, Sarah and Simon, whose father is a painter, and who live with their parents and baby brother in a big room called a Studio. Their father is talented, but unacknowledged, and so the family is poor, though very happy. When the story opens, the father is painting his masterpiece. Sarah and Simon are good little helpers and spend their time doing chores and visiting their favorite place in town: the old second-hand bookshop with its kind owner. Soon the masterpiece is almost finished, except for the bit of red paint needed to complete it, and even the dealer agrees to buy it if it were finished the next day. But there is no more red paint, and no more money left with which to buy it. So Sarah and Simon set out to help their father, and to their surprise, end up reconciling their family with an estranged uncle and restoring the family fortune as well—all with the help and kind solicitation of the bookshop owner…

This is the sort of story that comes along only once in a while. It is sweet yet geniune and forthright, insightful yet just right for children. And it is beautifully illustrated and warmly told.

Highly recommended for ages 6 and older.

Edward Ardizzone, born in 1900 in French Indochina, became a war artist during World War II. He illustrated more than twenty children's books including classics by Dickens, Mark Twain, Dylan Thomas and Christianna Brand's Nurse Matilda series.

It is the day before Christmas Eve and there is lots to do, but disaster strikes when Farmer Pettson sprains his ankle. How can they celebrate Christmas now—with no tree, ham, meatballs or gingerbread? For all their resourcefulness, Findus and Pettson are close to giving up, when suddenly there is a knock on the door...

Findus at Christmas is a wonderful story of kindness and sharing, and how Christmas can bring out the best in people - and cats!

Every day at four o'clock in the morning, Findus the cat likes to jump up and down on his bed. He wakes Farmer Pettson, who tells him to stop. Because cats really need their early morning exercise, Findus decides to find a house of his own where he can jump and bounce when he likes. But jumping on beds is one thing – living without Pettson is quite another….maybe they can come to a compromise?

Another really dear tale of Findus and Pettison - very highly recommended!

Findus is back and headed for the great outdoors with Farmer Pettson. The fun and delight continue with the newest of Findus's adventures.

Old man Pettson was looking for a bag of fishing floats in the attic. Findus jumped on a large green canvas sausage, which bounced him downstairs. "Why do you have such dangerous sausages lying about in the attic?" scolded Findus.

"That's a tent," Pettson said. He started to dream how much fun it would be to camp by the lake and grill fish over the fire as the sun set . . .

That's not exactly how things turn out. But Findus, Pettson and the hens try camping -- in the garden.

Wonderful!

NOTE: Imperfect copies currently discounted on the clearance page (scroll down to find them).

Farmer Pettson sat doing the crossword, with Findus the cat on his knee. “Tell me about when I disappeared,” said Findus.

“You haven’t disappeared,” said Pettson. “You’re sitting right here.”

“Yes, but—when I was little.“

“Oh then ... But you’ve heard the story so often before.”

“But tell it to me anyway!”

So here is the story of when Findus was little and disappeared. Findus and Pettson live in a red farmhouse, with a henhouse, workshop, and toolshed set among the forests, fields, and meadows of rural Sweden. Every picture tells a story, with a fascinating, magical world of tiny creatures.

Farmer Pettson was a little odd - or at least that's what his neighbors said. But he went about his life happily, working on his farm and enjoying the company of his cat, Findus.

Findus had three birthdays each year - because it was much more fun that way. And on every birthday, Farmer Pettson made Findus a big stack of pancakes.

But one birthday, it seemed to Findus that he was never going to get his pancakes - first Pettson had to find some eggs and clean them, then he had to fix a punctured bicycle tire, then find his keys and distract a bull. When all this was done, he then had to bike all the way into town for some flour. Findus was getting pretty tired of waiting . . . and then the fun began in earnest!

Findus the Cat is one of my all-time favorite "book friends." It's hard for me to imagine a child who wouldn't fall head over heels in love with Findus the moment they meet.

There's a hen-hunting fox on the loose. But Farmer Pettson and his quirky cat Findus agree that foxes should not be killed—they should be tricked. Farmer Pettson and Findus come up with an unforgettable plan that leads to an explosive, unforgettable night.

How does one keep up with a sister who is disappearing all the time? She says that the world is so big, there are so many fantastic new things to see...and then suddenly, she’s gone.

But little brother might know where she is. He knows her best. And if you like, you can help him. Search through the landscapes of her dreams, in places you've never seen or even imagined before.

In this magnificent picture book, printed in a special, extra-large format, Sven Nordqvist invites you on a balloon journey through a fabulous fantasy world. The sister is hidden on each richly illustrated spread. Can you find her? This is an art book for both children and adults—with stunning pictures, a poetic text, and subtle art historical references.

When I was young, I think I must have read every single dog story available, from the classics like Lassie Come Home to modern stories like Champion Dog, Prince Tom and much more. I loved dogs then and now and think there is indeed something very special about the bonds human beings and dogs can form, and about the nature of the various breeds. Fascinating stuff, great for growing up on.

Flash is a book I would have loved at that time, a terrific story that combines all sorts of knowledge about dogs, sheep, farms and life itself. I so enjoy knowing that children in our day can be introduced to the joys of rambling along the hillside with a good dog at one's side.

*****

Tom Stokes is an orphan. His sister is going to America to get married—but where can he go? They remember an uncle and aunt they scarcely know living in the borders of Scotland. After the city bustle of London, Tom finds his uncle's farm barren and lonely. How can he adjust to such a life? Help comes in the form of a sheepdog puppy, and his loneliness is quickly forgotten as Tom realizes the dog is his to love and train—maybe to be a champion!

And so begins his adventurous and challenging life on the hill farm with his new friend Elspeth and sheepdog Flash. Then his sister writes that Tom can come and live with her in America, and he is faced with the most difficult decision of his life...

Why doesn’t anyone want the mixter-maxter kitten? The little striped cat is on a journey—sent from the farm to the city and passed from owner to owner. No one seems to love him just as he is.

Finally, he moves into the tall house in Edinburgh and finds his name—Mac— and life gets more interesting. He makes friends with two musical ladies next door and discovers he likes Bach, as well as cat treats. He has many adventures as he explores. Then, just when he begins to feel settled, unsettling things start to happen. Will he ever find someone to love him for always?

Shipwrecked as a baby, Goldie goes to live in an orphanage where her golden hair gets her into trouble. Then a new girl called Lotta arrives and Goldie starts to have more fun, until the time comes for them to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. What will happen to the two friends now that Lotta is going away with a stern older couple, while Goldie is to go with a kindly farmer?

The lively illustrations bring out the warmth and vivacity of Goldie. This story is sure to enchant children ages 6-8

This classic German children's tale of imaginative fantasy and adventure tells the story of how Peter and Anneli help Mr. Zoomzeman, a June Bug, bring his leg back from the Moon.

Long ago, a thief—stealing wood in the forest—had accidentally cut off Mr. Zoomzeman's great-great grandfather's leg and was banished to the Moon. Unfortunately, he took the leg with him and, since then, the family of the Zoomzemans have all had only five legs. Only "two good children" can get the leg back, so Mr. Zoomzeman, in search of goodness, finds Peter and Anneli.

The three set off together on an astonishing journey filled with marvelous encounters, fantastic beings, and exciting events. Finally, reaching the Moon, they must challenge the ferocious Moon Man and, with the help of the Nature Forces, they restore the missing leg to Mr. Zoomzeman.

I can't think of a child anywhere who would not love these stories - all of them true, all of them heartwarming and wonderful. I look often for animal stories that can really feed the soul - this book is filled with them.

Please, Can We Keep the Donkey? features dozens of personal accounts of successful animal adoptions and rescues. These entertaining stories describe rewarding relationships with animals ranging from dogs and cats to birds, a snake, and, of course, a donkey.

Meet a rabbit who is an architect, dogs too ugly to pet, an orphaned cat who bonds with an orphaned girl, an unruly dog who brings aid to senior citizens, and many other animals whose lives have changed the people who took them in. These delightful and heartwarming stories of individuals who find each other and bring joy to one another's lives pose the question that one contributor asks: "Who rescued whom?"

Here's a story that can bring an element of adventure and fantasy to the "house building" theme of the Waldorf third grade. Between the ninth year (age 8) and about age 10, children experience a sense of uncertainty when they look about the world. A lot is changing for them, and one of the biggest changes is that they now feel separated from the world in a way that is new to them.

The themes of the Waldorf third grade answer that uncertainty by focusing first on the Old Testament stories of wandering in the desert followed by the entry into the Promised Land and the ultimate "house building," that of the Temple in Jerusalem. Then, house building and farming become more concrete and personal within the theme: often, actually houses are built, garden plots tended and books such as Farmer Boy are read.

It is somewhere during or after this second half of the year that a book like Swiss Family Robinson can be a real treat. Here is a family who is shipwrecked and must start from scratch with no one but themselves on a desert island. Their resourcefulness and adventures are just the ticket for any child during this time. I can remember nearly devouring the book when I was about nine - I must have read it three or four times that year. Even the parts that are a bit far-fetched (how did Mother manage to put everything they'd need into that one bag, anyway?) make perfect sense to a child (after all, doesn't God always provide?), and the characters are all admirable and vigorous.

This is another favorite from my own childhood - I hope your children enjoy it as much.

Renne’s wintry tale follows the rite of passage of a little skewbald horse. After enjoying the winning combination of snow and horses, children will certainly want the extra information provided in unobtrusive ‘fact boxes’ about the adaptation of this special breed to the harsh Icelandic climate.

—Gillian Lathey, the School Librarian journal

Evocative illustrations convey the beauty and chill of the Icelandic landscape.

—Child Education

One day the little Icelandic horse is chased away from the herd by a black stallion. He is forced to roam the grasslands on his own. As winter comes and the snow starts to fall, will the little skewbald horse save the day when the herd of Icelandic horses is endangered by the snow and ice?

Along with the beautiful illustrations and gripping story, this book is full of interesting facts about Icelandic horses—their history, appearance, and how they live—which will appeal to all animal-loving children.

For more information on Icelandic horses, visit the website of Pentland Hills Icelandics in Carlops, Scotland, at www.phicelandics.co.uk. They have the largest herd of Icelandic horses in Britain.

Pudding is a cranky goose. She is as fierce as a tiger and as prickly as barbed wire. And she’s as noisy as a street full of fire engines. Nobody tells Pudding what to do—not even Chips the sheepdog. Things are never quiet on Annie’s farm!

But one warm, windy night, a big red fox comes creeping through the paddocks, dreaming of chicken dinners, and things start to change.

This is the perfect fable for our times! I hope every child gets to hear the story of Henrietta and her indomitable spirit.

Henrietta lives in a place where despair is a perfectly reasonable response to the situation. She is one of three thousand three hundred thirty three chickens in a great big chicken house that smells like chicken droppings and fortified chicken feed and where there is just enough room for each chicken's feet, but no more. Of course, all the chickens have a cough and constantly pull each other's feathers out. Things are not good, not good at all.

But Henrietta is going to lay golden eggs -- she just knows she will. And learn to fly and to swim and to sing! In between coughing, the other chickens laugh at her. Henrietta is too busy scratching her way out of the chicken house to pay much attention to them, though, and eventually she gets out and then all the other chickens have a day in the sun, too.

Of course, the farmer has his men round them all up and put them back in the chicken house and boards up the hole Henrietta created. So, she starts making a new one! The ending is a joyous triumph that will fill your heart and make you smile for days.

You'll love this story, your child(ren) will love this story and, I promise you, when things look bleak, if you remember Henrietta, you'll find a way past the obstacles.

Written by master storyteller, Jacob Streit, Puck the Gnome is one of the most delightful children·s stories to appear in quite awhile. Puck is a hard-working fellow whose one foot faces forward while the other faces backward (something many of us can relate to, I suspect). Streit's delightful tale illuminates the world of the hard-working gnomes through the courage and antics of the one who's literally coming and going at the same time. The moral insights, wisdom, humor, and true goodness found in Puck·s adventures will delight both children and adults. The illustrations by Georges Feldmann are truly magical.

"Mr. Goethe, How did you ever learn to paint these plants so they look so alive?"

Mr. Goethe turned his kind face to me. "First," he said, "I listen with my eyes. I give each plant my full attention, as I do you. Like friends, plants tell you their secrets only when they know you care."

Mr. Goethe's Garden is one of those rare books that is a classic upon first printing. A beautifully illustrated book whose tale will captivate and inspire both children adults, its story is so timeless and so multifaceted that I predict it will live for a lifetime in the hearts its readers. This is the sort of book that will be saved to be passed along to future generations of children - and will uplift and gladden them as it does us now.

Mr. Goethe's Garden is the story of the friendhsip between an inquisitive young girl and her elderly neighbor, Johann von Goethe. Set in the 1830s as Goethe was finishing (at last!) his play Faust, Anna sees Mr. Goethe painting in his garden and decides to go paint with him. Theirs is that very special friendship between the very old and the very young - as they spend their days together, Mr. Goethe teaches Anna how to listen to plants with her eyes and see them with her heart. The plants and their cycles spring to life within Anna and blossom within her heart with a sun-drenched beauty.

*My review is based on an actual reading of a prepublication review copy, not on publisher's blurbs. I have seen this book, read it several times, and loved it - it is among the best children's books I've ever read.

It is spring in the valley and the Moomins are ready for adventure! Moomintroll and his friends Snufkin and Sniff find the Hobgoblin's top hat, all shiny and new and just waiting to be taken home. They soon realize that this is no ordinary hat; it can turn anything - or anyone - into something else!

Enhanced with Tove Jansson's simple, sprightly drawings, this series of delightful stories about life in Moomin Valley has enchanted families around the world for more than forty years. A wonderful read-to-me for ages 7 and over; a read-by-myself around ages 9-10.

When Moomintroll learns that a comet will be passing by, he and his friend Sniff travel to the Observatory on the Lonely Mountains to consult the Professors. Along the way, they have many adventures, but the greatest adventure of all awaits them when they learn that the comet is headed straight for their beloved Moominvalley.

It's more than 40 years since Jansson's Moomintrolls first appeared. I found the writing and invention as appealing as ever. She has a thistledown touch.

Even the Moomin family need a change of scenery sometimes, so they're off to live in a lighthouse on a tiny island. As Pappa, Mamma, Moomintroll, Little My, and the icy Groke discover their new home - facing wind, wave, and weather of all sorts - they also discover surprising, and surprisingly funny things about themselves.

At last it can be told! The true story of Moominpappa's youth - his triumphs, his tribulations, and his momentous meetings with the Joxter and the Muddler (the fathers of Snufkin and Sniff, respectively), and, of course, Moominmamma.

A rich and beautiful story, this one. An old lady sets off to market to buy some apples for her cake, taking a basket of plums to trade along the way. As she travels, she meets one person after another to whom she gives what she has brought and from whom she receives a gift in return. At last, it is too late to reach the market - besides she no longer has the plums to trade! How she comes to have apples for her cake is a story that will inspire warm faith in the goodness of the world. A warming, inspiring story for ages 5-8. Includes a recipe for a delicious apple cake!

In Blue Mountains is about the love of nature and the importance of beauty. It tells the story of an artist who sets out to explore wilderness and discovers a new way of seeing. Bewildered at first by the profusion of nature, he gradually learns to see its wholeness and to trust his feelings. The story itself is a beautiful portrayal of nature, light and color. The juxtaposition of Locker's luminous paintings with the artist's experiences inspire a deep appreciation for the beauties of the world and for our human awareness in percieving them. A book for all ages, I recommend it especial for children 7 to 10 years old.

A lame, surly-tongued shepherd lives near Bethlehem. When a choir of angels appears bringing good news of a child, he turns away. When the other shepherds set out to find the child, he just watches them go. Why bother - they are just chasing a dream. At last, he sets out to follow them, not to find the child but to gloat at their folly. What happens when he finally reaches the stable? A miracle, of course!! A wonderful Christmas tale for ages 3 - 9.

The author of those great Medieval tales, Catherine, Called Birdie and The Midwife's Apprentice has created another great story - this time set in California during the Gold Rush. California doesn't suit Lucy Whipple - not the name, not the place. But moving out West to Lucky Diggins, California, was her mama's dream-come-true. And now her brother, Butte, and sisters Prairie and Sierra, seem to be Westerners at heart, too. For Lucy, Lucky Diggins is hardly a town at all - just a bunch of ramshackle tents and tobacco-spitting miners. Even the gold her mama claimed was just lying around in the fields isn't panning out. Worst of all, there's no lending library! Lucy vows to be plain miserable until she can hightail it back East where she belongs. But Lucy California Morning Whipple may be in for a surprise - home is a lot closer than she thinks. Ages 8 - 12.

Byrd Baylor Special

Purchase both Everybody Needs a Rock and The Table Where Rich People Sit

Everybody needs a rock for a friend, and they need to know how to care for it. "If somebody says, ‘What’s so special about that rock?’ don’t even tell them. I don’t. Nobody is supposed to know what’s special about another person’s rock." Once he’s sure we have learned that simple truth, the Native boy telling this story takes us on a journey through the Ten Rules for Finding a Rock. We don’t want to spill all the beans, but so that you know what a special treasure this book is, we will share Rule Number One. "If you can, go to a mountain made out of nothing but a hundred million small, shiny, beautiful, roundish rocks. But if you can’t, anyplace will do. Even an alley. Even a sandy road." May this book lead you to your rock. Age 3 and up for read-aloud. Age 6-7 for read-alone.

Mountain Girl can see that her family is poor - and she can see that her parents aren't even sensible enough to notice. So, she calls a family meeting to discuss the problem. As her family sits around their homemade (from discarded lumber) kitchen table, her parents say they are rich. They begin to count up the value of the things they have. How much is it worth to be able to see the sky all day and feel the wind and smell the coming rain? Or to watch a cactus bloom or to sleep outside under the stars? After a while, Mountain Girl begins to realize that money may not be a important as she thought. A wonderful story that beautiful shows the difference between freely-chosen simplicity and poverty - ages 7 and up.